During World War II Montalban headed an elite Marine unit. Montalban trained his men to be lethal killing machines. Marvin was one of his "boys".
Eighteen years later Montalban is a principled lawyer defending a big time gangster. Montalban has largely tried to forget the war. But Marvin hasn't stopped killing just because the war is over. He is a serial murderer who takes out people the law doesn't adequately punish. Montalban is going to be Marvin's next target.
A great game of cat and mouse follows with two superb extended fight scenes between the leads. It was clear the actors were doing most of their own stunts. Both actors are in top form as they go after each other - mentally and physically. Montalban in particular looks like he is in awesome shape.
Marvin was 38 and Montalban was 42. Both men were in their prime. Montalban's beautiful wife was played by 32-year old Patricia Breslin (so charming as Mandy Peoples on "The People's Choice"). The cop on the case was played by Claude Akins, 36. Sondra Blake (wife of Robert Blake) pulled out all the stops playing one of Marvin's victims.
This fine thriller fires on all cylinders: acting, writing, and directing. The story might have been suggested by "Cape Fear" (1962). The episode could have conceivably been a pilot for a series with Montalban, Breslin, and Akins.
Bruce Geller wrote the script and Bernard Kowalski directed. Geller and Kowalski also produced the episode. Kowalski had previously directed Marvin in four "M Squads" and an "Untouchables".
Geller was 32 and Kowalski was 33. Both were young, ambitious, and very talented.
Geller and Kowalski had first worked together on a strong episode of "The Rebel", in which Claude Akins gave a fine guest star performance.
Geller and Kowalski were hired to produce the seventh season of "Rawhide" in 1964. They did a fine job -but were fired after 21 episodes. Maybe Marvin and Eastwood compared notes on Bruce and Bernie when they did "Paint Your Wagon".
Three years later Geller created and produced "Mission: Impossible". Kowalski directed the pilot and was a part owner of the show.
Geller also produced "Mannix". Two of the best "Mannix" episodes involved a member of Mannix's squad during Korea deciding to kill the other members of the squad. Steve Ihnat and Darren McGavin were the killers in the two episodes. McGavin was almost as impressive a villain as Marvin. Both "Mannix" episodes were directed by John Llewelyn Moxey ("The Night Stalker" TV movie with McGavin as Carl Kolchak).
Bruce Geller died at 48 when a private plane he was flying crashed.
Bernard Kowalkski produced "Baretta". His son-in- law was producer Brian Grazer ("24", "Ranson").
This was one of the last "Dick Powell Shows". Powell had already died at 58. Pat Boone was the guest host for the original airing on 4/2/63 at 9:30 pm eastern. The show aired on a Tuesday night.
The always astute poster searchanddestroy-1 is right when he calls "Epilogue" a "must see tale".
Eighteen years later Montalban is a principled lawyer defending a big time gangster. Montalban has largely tried to forget the war. But Marvin hasn't stopped killing just because the war is over. He is a serial murderer who takes out people the law doesn't adequately punish. Montalban is going to be Marvin's next target.
A great game of cat and mouse follows with two superb extended fight scenes between the leads. It was clear the actors were doing most of their own stunts. Both actors are in top form as they go after each other - mentally and physically. Montalban in particular looks like he is in awesome shape.
Marvin was 38 and Montalban was 42. Both men were in their prime. Montalban's beautiful wife was played by 32-year old Patricia Breslin (so charming as Mandy Peoples on "The People's Choice"). The cop on the case was played by Claude Akins, 36. Sondra Blake (wife of Robert Blake) pulled out all the stops playing one of Marvin's victims.
This fine thriller fires on all cylinders: acting, writing, and directing. The story might have been suggested by "Cape Fear" (1962). The episode could have conceivably been a pilot for a series with Montalban, Breslin, and Akins.
Bruce Geller wrote the script and Bernard Kowalski directed. Geller and Kowalski also produced the episode. Kowalski had previously directed Marvin in four "M Squads" and an "Untouchables".
Geller was 32 and Kowalski was 33. Both were young, ambitious, and very talented.
Geller and Kowalski had first worked together on a strong episode of "The Rebel", in which Claude Akins gave a fine guest star performance.
Geller and Kowalski were hired to produce the seventh season of "Rawhide" in 1964. They did a fine job -but were fired after 21 episodes. Maybe Marvin and Eastwood compared notes on Bruce and Bernie when they did "Paint Your Wagon".
Three years later Geller created and produced "Mission: Impossible". Kowalski directed the pilot and was a part owner of the show.
Geller also produced "Mannix". Two of the best "Mannix" episodes involved a member of Mannix's squad during Korea deciding to kill the other members of the squad. Steve Ihnat and Darren McGavin were the killers in the two episodes. McGavin was almost as impressive a villain as Marvin. Both "Mannix" episodes were directed by John Llewelyn Moxey ("The Night Stalker" TV movie with McGavin as Carl Kolchak).
Bruce Geller died at 48 when a private plane he was flying crashed.
Bernard Kowalkski produced "Baretta". His son-in- law was producer Brian Grazer ("24", "Ranson").
This was one of the last "Dick Powell Shows". Powell had already died at 58. Pat Boone was the guest host for the original airing on 4/2/63 at 9:30 pm eastern. The show aired on a Tuesday night.
The always astute poster searchanddestroy-1 is right when he calls "Epilogue" a "must see tale".